Brussels hopes for a 'yes' from Iceland in weekend referendum

Icelanders head to the polls this weekend to decide whether to reopen pre-accession talks with the European Union, and Brussels is publicly urging a positive result while signalling flexibility on thorny issues such as fisheries.

Brussels officials note that Iceland is already closely linked to the Union: the island of roughly 400,000 people participates in the EU single market while making payments into the Union’s budget in a manner similar to Norway, and it is part of the Schengen area. On many rule-of-law and green-energy benchmarks Reykjavík is largely aligned with EU standards.

From a stalled process to a rare fast track

The EU sees accession as a symbolic and practical gain. Croatia remains the last country to join the bloc — in 2013 — and enlargement talks elsewhere, particularly with the Western Balkans, have dragged on. If Iceland were to proceed, it would be the first Western European country to join the EU in more than three decades, a step Brussels says would reinforce shared values and add strategic depth in the North.

Veteran EU figures have warned that the door can reopen even after a formal halt: on 12 June 2013 Stefan Fuele expressed disappointment at Reykjavík’s decision to stop talks but also insisted that the process could be resumed. He said then: "We respect Iceland's decision to end the pre-accession talks." He added his belief that "If the Icelanders decide to return to this, we will reach an agreement that will honour Icelandic particularities and European principles."

Marta Kos, the European Commissioner for Enlargement, has sought to make the case for a pragmatic approach. In an interview with Icelandic radio she argued that Iceland is unusually aligned with the EU and that accession — if Reykjavik chooses it — would be a different kind of case than other candidate countries. "If the people decide to continue with the accession process, it will be a different situation than with any other candidate country. We have never had such an aligned country," she said, adding that Iceland’s location and geopolitical context mean it could contribute to EU security: "You know what it means to be up there, faced with — let's say — different influences in the surroundings. That can contribute to the security of the EU."

Fisheries remain the thorniest chapter. Kos has publicly acknowledged the sensitivity of the subject for Icelandic livelihoods and identity: "We are aware of the importance of fishing for Iceland, not only for your prosperity, but for your life as a community, for your identity," she said, stressing that "the beauty of the EU is that it is capable of solving impossible problems." Brussels appears to be preparing to negotiate exceptions and compromises if voters back talks this weekend.

Photo: press material from the event